Citrus Marinated Cherries and Nectarines

Two of my favorite summer fruits are cherries and white nectarines. I can’t get enough! Cherries are loaded with antioxidants and an excellent source of fiber. They contain 75% water which makes them a perfect weight loss food since foods that have a high water content will keep you feeling full longer. I was at a dinner party a few weeks ago and this was served for dessert. I knew I had to try making it. This delicious low fat dessert recipe combines cherries and nectarines with a zesty citrus zing that will satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s so elegant to serve at a dinner party. There aren’t many ingredients and it’s easy to make.

I thought pitting the cherries would be very time consuming but it was much easier then I thought. To pit the cherries slice them in half with a small knife. Go around the pit with the end of a potato peeler and they come out easily. This took about 15 to 20 minutes. I did this the night before and placed in the fridge. Cherries will stain your fingers and clothes so be careful and wear gloves if you want to save your manicure. I didn’t wear gloves but mixing some baking soda with a little hydrogen peroxide takes away most of the staining.

Cut nectarines into bit sized pieces and place in a large bowl with cherries. (Choose nectarines that are ripe but on the firm side. They will soak up a lot of the marinate and will be very soft by the next day if you have leftovers.)

Zest the orange.

Add the orange juice, zest, brown sugar, chopped basil and a pinch or two of salt (about 1/8 teaspoon) Taste for sweetness. You may need to add more or less brown sugar. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.

I served this over part skim ricotta cheese but if you really want to cut down the calories it also tastes amazing over yogurt or frozen yogurt. Ricotta cheese is naturally low in fat and made from whey rather than whole milk. It has 100 calories in 1/4 cup, which is about the amount to use when serving.